Review: The Landmark London Hotel

If, like us, you're one for taking public transport rather than a chauffeur-driven car, The Landmark London Hotel is perfectly placed for travel-weary feet, sat directly opposite Marylebone station and a short stroll to some of the city's best shopping on Oxford Street.

Walking into the reception area, it soon becomes clear that the interior is as impressive as the imposing red-brick facade, as the sweeping marble steps draw the eye into the soaring eight-storey atrium that conjures images of tropical foreign lands, complete with palm trees and sun-soaked gazebo.

Although the hotel has been modernised since it was built in 1899, much of its original charm still remains. Light streams in through pretty stain-glass windows, ceilings abound with intricate cornicing and walls are bedecked with a ménage of classical and modern art works. The same sympathetic furnishing is also apparent in the guest rooms, which are also some of the largest we have seen in London, with enough room for a lounge area complete with a ridiculously soft sofa as well as a huge bathroom big enough for the cast of a West End show to get ready in.

One of the best things about the hotel is the little surprises it throws up every now and then, such as the ultra-modern life-sized horse lamp sat proudly outside the hotel's newest culinary venture TwoTwentyTwo (due to open in April), as well as the quirky jewel box, The Mirror Bar. However, our favourite part of the hotel has to be the newly opened luxurious Landmark Spa tucked away in the basement. Guests can either choose from the extensive treatment menu, or just while away the day relaxing on one of the cosy loungers next to the bath-temperature swimming pool whilst supping on a freshly pressed fruit juice.

If all the five-star luxury treatment has worked up an appetite we recommend you book yourself a table at the Sunday Champagne Brunch, which is like a master class in opulence. As you are sat in the tropical atrium, with soothing jazz twinkling in the background, you are instantly treated to a fine glass of Taittinger, which is endlessly topped up over the two and half hour dining extravaganza.

The lavish buffet is a bewildering array of tempting goodies. The best place to start is at the breakfast end of the long line of elegantly displayed food. Sizzling rashers of bacon, juicy sausages and hash browns are on offer as well as one of the tastiest and most perfectly cooked eggs Benedict we have ever tried, and eggs cooked to order. The next step en route to food debauchery should be the spread of salads and seafood, including fresh oysters and creamy smoked salmon mousse. Then after a brief pause and even more champagne it is time to visit the mains section, which range from fish choices and pasta to butter-soft rib eye of beef served with Yorkshire puddings and succulent pork with perfectly crisp crackling. If you have left enough room, and we seriously recommend you do, tuck into the glorious dessert centre piece. With around 20 different puddings, from crème brûlée and cheesecake to trifle and a chocolate fountain, it is a sweet-tooth fantasy.

The Landmark London is a member of Great Hotels of the World. For more information or to book visit www.ghotw.com/landmark-london or call 0800 032 4254. Prices start from £259 per night. Day passes to the spa are £10 for guests staying at the hotel and £30 for non-guests. The Champagne Brunch is £70 per person for adults. Children under 5 are charged at £1 for every year of their age and children 5-12 years of age are £20 with unlimited soft drinks. A Mother's Day Champagne Brunch is also available at £80 per person (including a spa day pass for the mother in question).